Nick Zubko Commentary

Former NFL linebacker Junior Seau died last week from an apparent suicide. As reactions range from shock to complete disbelief, some are trying to find what can be learned to help those with similar struggles.

The U.S is not alone in the fight for mental health in the workplace. This week, organizations in Canada and Europe announced new efforts to address the prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems within their workforces.

The National Council Conference & Expo is always a great source of information, but this year's conference also offered a few unique attractions that helped make the event a truly memorable experience.

Emergency rooms are busy places, which is probably why the expression "treat 'em, and street 'em" has made its way into the medical lexicon. But for patients with mental illness, “streeting” can be a serious problem.

Even before flooding forced the closure of Vermont State Hospital last year, the state’s mental health system was in desperate need of attention. This week, Gov. Peter Shumlin signed a new law that marks the “end of an outdated, broken system.”

Six years ago, federal investigators took a hard look at Oregon’s mental health system. Eventually, they released a report that revealed a number of apparent “deficiencies." This week, news broke that an agreement may have been reached.

Every year, the Joint Commission releases a list of “Most Challenging Requirements.” This year five standards were cited as most frequently “non-compliant” by accredited behavioral health organizations.